Text messages to LL world series players, visitors to be displayed

WILLIAMSPORT -- Can’t get to the Little League World Series but would like to welcome the players, families and visitors or comment on an exceptional play?

That can be done at no cost until 3 p.m. Thursday through the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau by texting LLWS and a message with a maximum of 200 characters to 22333.

The messages, which will be screened to remove those that are inappropriate, will be displayed on an electronic message board that will be in the middle of the downtown Williamsport Welcomes the World street festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, a scheduled off day for the series.

Following the street festival, the message board will be moved to the visitors center at the foot of William Street where it remain through the series championship game on Sunday.

The idea to display messages was that of Jason Fink, executive director of the visitors bureau. While attending a Pittsburgh Pirates game recently, he said he saw texts were displayed on a PNC Field message board.

The street festival will include entertainment, children’s activities, vendors and an appearance by Hall of Famer Robin Yount.

Yount, twice American League most valuable player with Milwaukee, will autograph at no cost pictures of himself between 6 and 7 p.m. Attendees should not ask him to sign personal memorabilia, Fink said.